While residents and non-residents must apply, the so-called 900 multi-region tag is an automatic draw -- and perhaps the best thing going for bow hunters. It's about as close to over-the-counter as it gets. The tag allows hunting from Aug. 15 (early archery season) to the close of rifle season in mid-November in every management region except regions 1 and 2. Most districts are either-sex.

In recent years, buying the either-sex tag then allows the hunter to apply for additional doe-fawn tags.

Statewide, many acres are enrolled in the Block Management Program with decent-to-excellent antelope hunting. In addition, millions of acres of public land also provide excellent hunting. Of course, a zillion acres are leased to outfitters -- and on another zillion or so, access is by fee only.

Nevada
Here, resident and non-resident antelope tags are not easy to come by.

For example, in the 2006 buck antelope any-legal-weapon hunts, nearly 11,000 residents applied for only 1,600 tags. The good news is that about 80 percent of the hunters were lucky and brought home a buck.

Meanwhile, non-residents in the same hunt drew just 63 tags against even longer odds. For instance, Unit 11 odds were 21 to 1. Units 21 and 22 were 27 to 1. No one in Las Vegas would tell you to place money on those bets.

But again, the success rate was high -- except for Unit 11, where success was at 57 percent. Hunters in the other units enjoyed a 70 to 100 percent success rate.

Resident and non-resident archery tags are a bit easier to come by.

In 2006, 872 residents applied for 472 tags (2 to 1 odds), but the statewide average success rate was just 21 percent. Non-residents who beat 4-to-1 odds drew one of just 46 tags; the statewide average success rate came in at 22 percent.

Last year, archery season ran July 27 through Aug. 16. Rifle season ran Aug. 22 through Sept. 5 (with a couple of late-season exceptions). In both cases, these were the earliest antelope hunts in the Rocky Mountain States.

Biologists report the statewide population at about 20,000. But recent wildfires have put a serious crimp in the habitat.

Especially hard hit was the critical winter range in the northern counties. Last year's archery season opened with a huge wildfire raging north of Elko, seriously curtailing hunter efforts in that area. Barring yet another disastrous fire season, hunters lucky enough to have drawn a tag should enjoy decent hunting in most units.

New Mexico
The Land of Enchantment doesn't have the numbers, but there are bucks here that will take your breath away.

As in Arizona, mild winters translate to healthy older bucks. Healthy old bucks almost always sport bigger horns. The B&C record book lists 10 New Mexico bucks -- three each from Socorro, Lincoln and Catron counties and one from Grant County.